Pipe thread protector



Dec. 27, 193s. B; ENGSTROM 2,141,381l

PIPE THREAD PROTECTOR Fla. l//14 I w ww Viiv/1111111.

INVENTOR.

WITNEJSES 7g ATTORNEYS.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 27, 1938. B. ENGsTRoM PIPE THREAD PROTECTOR FiledFeb. 17, 1957 O INVENTOR Y 4' ATTORNEYS.

,30 6, '1, a, sand 1c views Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED sTATEs2.141.381 Pira 'rnaEAn rao'rncron Birger Engstrom,

Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner, by

mesne assignments, of sixty one-hundredths to The National Supply(h'mipany,

Pittsburgh,

l Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Y, Application 'ebruary 11, 1937,serial No. 126.183

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a protector of the type used on the ends ofpipes, rods and the like to protect the threads or outer surface of sucharticles at the end thereof from being injured when they are beinghandled. stored vor other- Wise treated, and more particularly to `whatis commonly known as a pipe thread protector.

An object of the invention is to provide a protector of this characterwhich is sturdily and dem pendably constructed, easy to apply andremove, and at the same time adapted to be rigidly and securely held inplace when installed. y,

A furtherv object isto provide a. protector which is capable of beingused a plurality of times and in which all of the parts are permanentlyconnected together so that the possibility of some of them being lost ormisplaced is eliminated.

These and various other objects as well as the various other novelfeatures and advantages of 2 the invention will be apparent whenthefollow-- ing detailed description is read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1

is a side view of one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 and Fig'. 3top and bottom plan views,

respectively, of the same embodiment, showing the 'protector in itsclosed position; Fig. 4 a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig.2;

y Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig. 3,' but showing the clamping toggle inits released position; Figs.

similar to Figs.1 to 5,

respectively, of another embodiment of the invention; Figs. 11 andl 12fragmentary plan and sectional views, respectively, of the latch shownin Figs. 1 to 5 for holding the clamping mechanism in its closedposition,` and Figs. 13 and 14 similar views of the clamping latch shownin Figs. 6 to 10. v

Referring in detail to these drawings and first more particularly'to theembodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.

I designates a threaded pipe end shown by way of example and the numeral2 a split sleeve which comprises the body proper of the protector. `By

being split this sleeve is adapted to be expanded and readily slide overthe end of the pipe. `To

both'expand and tightly clamp it on the pipe vit is provided at its endswith a 4novel toggle mechanism 3 as will presently appear.

In order'to. prevent any jamming of the threads on a pipe or injury totheouter surfaceof a nonthreaded article which is being protected, dueto blows or impact when the protector is in place and to which thearticle may be subjected in service, a resilient lining or packing 4 issecured in any suitable manner to the inner surface of the 1 to 5, thenumeral (ci. 13a-9s) sleeve 2. While various materials may be used forthis purpose, a composite cork compound is recommended, such having beenfound'especially good for such purpose. -As shown, the exposed surfaceof this packing may be provided with a thin layer 5 of lead to render itwaterproof and non-absorbent, and being soft readily adapts itself tothe shape of the pipe threads or any pipe surface and it does notdetract from the other protecting qualities o! the packing.

The toggle mechanism 3 for expanding the sleeve to 'facilitate slidingthe protector onto and removing it from as well as for contracting it tosecure it to the protected article comprises, principally a clampinglever 6 and a connecting link 1. This lever; is pivotally connected atone end by a pin 8 to a hinge plate 9 which is attached to one end of`the sleeve 2. The connecting link 1 is in turn connected at one end toa pivot pin I0 carried by the lever 6 at a point spaced outwardly fromits anchored end and at its other end to a pivot pin Il carried by ahinge plate l2 secured to the other end of the sleeve. The spacing ofthe pins 8 and -|I, and 8 and I0, as well as the length of the lever is,of course, so proportioned as to provide the necessary expansion andcontraction of the sleeve and to do so without necessitating any undueexertion in applying and removing. the protector. The parts are also soproportioned that the force which pulls on the pin I0, through the link1, has a tendency to open the sleeve 2 when the line of such force isabove the pin 8, and to keep the lever tightly against the sleeve in theclosed position when the line of such force passes below such pin.

In comparatively large protectors such as illustrated the link 1 may beprovided with a plurality of spaced arms 1a and 1b, if desired, todistribute the application of the forces applied to the sleeve. To alsoprovide the protector with a smooth exterior when closed, these arms laand-1b may be joined together by a cross arm 1c which is adapted toenclose the space between the points where the leverv 6 andthe link 1are connected. In addition to protecting the link 1 and the lever 6 frombeing bent or caved in when subjected to impacts in use, between thepivot pinsB, I0 and Il where they are vnormally spaced from the sleevesolid strips I3a, 13b and |30 may be secured to the outer face of thesleeve 2 at such points to provide a metal-to-metal contact between thelink and lever and the protector when the protector is closed.

For locking the lever 6 in its closed position to prevent the protectorbeing accidentally released, a. releasable latch is provided. While thismay take any suitable form as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, itcomprises a bolt I4 provided with an oblong-shaped head I5 which ismounted for pivotal movement in the sleeve 2. To receive the head I5 anopening I6 of the same shape is provided in the outer end of the lever.Hence when the lever is closed over the bolt with the head aligned withsuch slot and the head thereafter rotated its shoulders are caused toengage the lever and lock it against -the sleeve. So that the head willnot project beyond the outer surface of the lever so as to be fouled, itmay be made only half as thick as the lever and the slot I6 counter-sunkto receive it as shown.

To facilitate tting the protector on the protected article by limitingthe extent to which the sleeve can be forced onto the article, and toalso adapt it to function as a means for preventing injury to theextreme end of the article, an inwardly turned flange I1 is provided onthe outer end of sleeve 2. A small inwardly turned flange I8 may also beprovided on the other end of the sleeve to engage the lower end of thepacking liner 4 and function as a deflector to prevent the protectorfrom dislodgment byblows acting against such end.

The inside diameter of the protector must of course be designed toproperly fit the article being protected so that when the lever is openthe protector will readily slide onto and off the article and whenclosed, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, it will be clamped in placesufficiently firmly to positively prevent its being knocked or jarredoff.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 10, a modification of the invention is shown inwhich a pair of concentrically arranged split sleeves 2| and 22 areemployed, the outer of which is provided with a modified form ofclamping arrangement. The inner of these sleeves 2| has an outwardlyflared head 23 at its outer end which terminates in inwardly extendingflange 24 projecting over the end of the protected article, and apacking liner 20. suitably secured to its inner surface to engage theouter surface of the protected article. To also cover the end of theprotected article, a closure element 25 is provided, and in the case ofa pipe this is preferably formed in the shape of a cup to adapt it toreceive a crane hook for handling the pipe. As shown best in Figs. 7 and9, such closure element is preferably secured to the sleeve 2I at apoint substantially diametrically opposite the opening in such sleeve soas to permit free expansion and contraction of the sleeve when theprotector is being applied or removed.

The outer sleeve 22 of this protector, which is used primarily to giveadditional protection, is also used for clamping the protector in place,being provided at one end with a clamping mechanism secured also to theinner sleeve and to be presently described. As indicated, such sleeve issecured to the inner sleeve 2| by rivets 3I although other suitablemeans, such as welding, may be used for this purpose. Instead of being acomplete circle, the outer sleeve 22 is made of such length that theclamping lever 26 attached to it completes the ring when the lever isclosed.

In this form of the invention as illustrated, the lever 26 is providedwith spaced extensions 26a which are pivotally connected by hinges 28 tothe inner sleeve 2I at a point spaced from one end thereof.Interi'ltting with these extensions are a plurality of spaced extensions22a on the adjacent end of the outer sleeve 22 which are pivotallyconnected at their ends by straps 29 to the lever 26 at a point spacedupwardly from its connected end. In this arrangement the extensionsonthe outer sleeve take the place of the connectinglink 'I of thepreviously described embodiment of the invention and being rigid tend toimpart a lifting action to the sleeves when opened and a wrapping actionwhen closed which actions greatly facilitate the installation andremoval of the protector.

A different form of lath is also provided on this latter embodiment,being best shown in Figs. 13 and 14. This comprises merely a curvedextending lug 32 struck out of the inner sleeve and disposed to beyieldably bent over a cut-out portion 33 in the end of the lever whenclosed. With such toggle, however, little strength is required of alatch as the force exerted on the lever when closed for most practicalpurposes will hold it in place.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that a protectorconstructed in the manner outlined may be readiy and securely applied orremoved and used over a number of times. It will be further obvious thatit can be adapted for use on the interior as well as the exterior of atube and has the advantage that all of its parts are permanentlyconnected together. Also as will be apparent in squeezing the soft linerinto the threads with the force exerted, the threads or other surfacewill be kept free from dirt, grit, and moisture and when the protectoris removed the threads or other surface will be in the same condition aswhen the protector was put on.

It is to be also understood that while the protector has been moreparticularly described for use in protecting threads,Y it is equallyused for protecting any form of surface and such as contemplated by theappended claims.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciple and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated anddescribed what I now consider to be its best embodiment. However, Idesire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyillustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A devicefor protecting the end of a cylindrical article comprising asplit sleeve adapted to t over the end of the article, said sleeve beingmade up of superimposed split bands, a packing liner secured to theexposed surface of one of said bands to engage the` surface beingprotected, and a lever-operated toggle mechanism secured to the innerand outer bands at the ends thereof for expanding and contracting themto install and remove the protector.

2. A device for protecting the end of a cylindrical article according toclaim 1 in which said sleeve-forming bands are connected togetherthroughout their overlapping lengths.

3. A device for protecting the ends of a cylindrical article comprisinga split sleeve adapted to fit over the end of the article, said sleevebeing made up of superimposed split bands, a packing liner secured tothe exposed surface of one of said'bands to engage the protectedsurface, and a lever-operated toggle mechanism connected between one endof the other band and a point spaced therefrom on the liner-carryingband and operative to expand and contract the sleeve for installing andremoving it.

4. A device for protecting the end of a cylindrical article according toclaim 3 in which the ends of the band opposite the liner are so spacedas to permit vthe toggle lever to lie therebetween when closed.

5. A device for protecting the end of a cylindrical article comprisinga. split sleeve adapted to ilt over the end of the article and providedwith a flange at one end thereof for engaging the end of the protectedarticle, a packing liner secured. to the article-engaging surface ofsaid sleeve, a split clamping band disposed to t over said sleeve, meansconnecting said sleeve and band together, a lever pivotally connected tosaid sleeve at a point spaced from one end oi said bandand to the end ofsaid band at a point spaced from its two ends.

6. A device for protecting the ends oi' a cylindrical article accordingto claim 5 in which a closure element is mounted under the flange ontllie sleeve and connected thereto to hold it in p ace.

7. A device for protecting the end of a cylindrical article according toclaim 5 provided with a flanged cup-shaped closure element which isdisposed to fit over the end of the protected article and to be heldthereon by the flange on the sleeve, and means connecting said closureele ment to said sleeve.

8. A device for protecting the end of a cylindrical article comprising asplit sleeve provided with a packing liner for engaging the surface tobe protected.

connected to said mst-mentioned sleeve. and a clamping lever plvotallyconnected to said firstbe protected. v

- BIRJGER ENGSTRJOM.

a reinforcing and clamping sleeve.

